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Permalink Reply by Jim Nadolny, BS, CRT on July 25, 2009 at 10:32am

Hi Mike,
I would have used tap water! (I am sure to hear some objections to this) The negative effect it would have on your equiptment would be minimal. The tap water will not hurt you as long as it is drinkable. Some people would not do this and the manufacturers do not recommend it. I am not saying that this should be a rule, or even good advice, I am just saying that I personaly would do it.

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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on July 25, 2009 at 11:07am

Mike, I would have used regular bottled water or tap water. I think the benefit to my health using my CPAP far outweighs any minor amount of mineral damage that might occur to the machine. I think the distilled water instructions are for daily, long term use. But I am a newbie, so that is just my little 2 cents worth. :>D It is good to know how much better we feel using our machine huh?

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Permalink Reply by Mike on July 25, 2009 at 11:23am

i hear you guys about the tap water, but for me, I'm too neurotic about inhaling the tap water with whatever happens to be mixed into it: anti-depressants, birth control pills, other chemicals, etc. If you're in a place that has excellent tap water, maybe this is less of a concern.

I know that we drink tap water, but I'm not sure that drinking and inhaling into the lungs pose the same amount of risk from a medical perspective. That's just me, though. I am not advocating this position for others -- just telling you how I personally view things.

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Permalink Reply by Rock Conner RRT on July 25, 2009 at 12:41pm

Dude! When you use tap water, pretty much all you get in vapor form are water molecules. The junk stays behind in the chamber. In fact, avoiding that residue is why distilled water is recommended by PAP manufacturers. don't put yourself through packing & traveling w/ distilled water, & sure a heck don't skip PAP over lack of distilled water. Relax!

Mike said:

i hear you guys about the tap water, but for me, I'm too neurotic about inhaling the tap water with whatever happens to be mixed into it: anti-depressants, birth control pills, other chemicals, etc. If you're in a place that has excellent tap water, maybe this is less of a concern.

I know that we drink tap water, but I'm not sure that drinking and inhaling into the lungs pose the same amount of risk from a medical perspective. That's just me, though. I am not advocating this position for others -- just telling you how I personally view things.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on July 25, 2009 at 2:48pm

I hear ya. Just am waking up now after sleeping through too much of a beautiful summer day. Everybody outside is wondering what's wrong with me.

Rock Conner RRT said:

Dude! When you use tap water, pretty much all you get in vapor form are water molecules. The junk stays behind in the chamber. In fact, avoiding that residue is why distilled water is recommended by PAP manufacturers. don't put yourself through packing & traveling w/ distilled water, & sure a heck don't skip PAP over lack of distilled water. Relax!
Mike said:

i hear you guys about the tap water, but for me, I'm too neurotic about inhaling the tap water with whatever happens to be mixed into it: anti-depressants, birth control pills, other chemicals, etc. If you're in a place that has excellent tap water, maybe this is less of a concern.

I know that we drink tap water, but I'm not sure that drinking and inhaling into the lungs pose the same amount of risk from a medical perspective. That's just me, though. I am not advocating this position for others -- just telling you how I personally view things.

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Permalink Reply by karen j tallent on July 25, 2009 at 3:37pm

You can boil tap water for 30 minutes and use it in a "emergency" situation. You don't have to use any water at all. I would rather be a little dry than forgo the cpap.

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Permalink Reply by Don Corbett on July 25, 2009 at 4:52pm

Wish I could say the same. I'm still struggling...

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Permalink Reply by The Dreamer on July 25, 2009 at 11:42pm

Last trip I went....I splurged $3 for bottled water.

I had gone with all just carry on, and chickened out on trying to see if TSA would let me bring distilled water in my carry on.

It was the best 4 nights of sleep I had....

The Dreamer.

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Permalink Reply by BeeAsleep on July 26, 2009 at 8:49am

I have read on other posts that you can get your doctor to write you a prescription for distilled water. You pick up the water at the pharmacy. Then you can bring on board more than the 6 oz of allowed liquid.

When I travel next, that is what I am going to do.

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Permalink Reply by Mike on July 26, 2009 at 10:44am

Done. I'm getting the prescription too. That seems like the way to go.


BeeAsleep said:

I have read on other posts that you can get your doctor to write you a prescription for distilled water. You pick up the water at the pharmacy. Then you can bring on board more than the 6 oz of allowed liquid.

When I travel next, that is what I am going to do.

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Permalink Reply by Sugarshirl on July 27, 2009 at 8:48pm

Hi Mike,

I have been using a full face comfort mask with a humidifier and for some reason about three months ago, I must have had a brain fart because I told my husband to buy purified water instead of distilled water. I just realized my mistake when I saw your post so I wanted to thank you. I am back to using distilled water, but I made sure I cleaned everything really good. I don't think there was any harm in using the purified water, was there? I don't think I have ever not used my CPAP in those two years because I am actually afraid of sleeping without it since I stop breathing 90 times per hour. I need to get into this forum more often!

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Permalink Reply by Mike on July 28, 2009 at 12:57am

the conventional wisdom on purified vs. distilled water is that the distilled might be a little easier on sediment buildup on your machine, and that purified would be just fine. i am not quite sure what "purified" means in reality -- my guess is it can vary depending on who's doing the purifying. Stick with distilled going forward.

Sugarshirl said:

Hi Mike,

I have been using a full face comfort mask with a humidifier and for some reason about three months ago, I must have had a brain fart because I told my husband to buy purified water instead of distilled water. I just realized my mistake when I saw your post so I wanted to thank you. I am back to using distilled water, but I made sure I cleaned everything really good. I don't think there was any harm in using the purified water, was there? I don't think I have ever not used my CPAP in those two years because I am actually afraid of sleeping without it since I stop breathing 90 times per hour. I need to get into this forum more often!

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